What co-infection should be tested and how accurate are these tests?

Thanks, ImLymed

The big one is babesia. You can't beat Lyme unless you beat babs. It takes different meds for that.

The tests are NOT very good...even at Igenex. There are MANY strains of babs, and they only test for two.

Many LLMD's will treat for babs regardless of test results. Lots of patients find out they DO have it when they go on the meds....they herx like crazy!

Also, bartonella may be a problem. I don't know much about that one. Lots of folks here do have it, so you can ask about it.

Hope this helps!!

I dont know about the accuracy of the tests, but it is many times treated without testing (in the ER it is automatic for a cat bite).

Keflex or Zithromax should work. The one lingering effect is that sometimes the lymph nodes never go back down to normal size and may have a problem with draining.

There are many possible co-infections to consider. But the symptoms overlap, so unless you exhibit symptoms that usually throw up a red flag for one or the other, it is difficult to know what you are dealing with.

As stated previously, most good LLMDs will put you on a round of meds to treat possible co-infections anyway.

Are you having specific symptoms that you are concerned about?

Here is some information for you-

Co-infections: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021366.html

Dual Infection: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/dateline/0996/page3.htm

Babesiosis: http://www.igenex.com/tickset1.htm http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/023235.html http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic195.htm http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/026141.html http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/13/3/451?view=full&pmid=10885987

Bartonella: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/bartonella-links.html http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/008362.html http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/022126.html http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001931.html http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/023623.html http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_bartonella.html

Ehrlichiosis: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/ehrlichiosis-links.html#basic http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/VBDP/granulocytic/Relate-W.htm http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol2no1/walker1.htm http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic3391.htm

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/rms.html http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic2043.htm

My best,
melanie

I've got to get started on vit. also.

My question is -
Are you seeing a LLMD?
An LLMD should address the problem of co-infections.

What dose of Doxy per day?
How long will your treatment be?

I've got about 2 weeks left on the doxy.

He said he would increase the time if I needed and would check for co-infections if I wanted. He's been pretty open minded, but I don't know how long it will last.